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Burglar nabs spa computers in minutes
Owner asks for help from possible witnesses

by Glenn Wohltmann

A business owner whose day spa was burglarized over the weekend is warning other businesses to take extra precautions.

Two Mac computers worth a total of about $2,400 were stolen in just minutes from Lavandu Face & Body at the Mission Plaza Shopping Center in the 1900 block of Santa Rita Road, the spa's owner, Pat Workman, said.

"They used a glass cutter and they cut a little circle on the glass door we have," Workman said. "When they did that, it shattered the glass."

A video from the store's surveillance system shows a white male in a dark hoodie and clothing entering the shop and making off with the computers. The break-in occurred at about 5:34 a.m. Saturday morning.

"For the most part, it would appear that he was only interested in our Mac computers, wireless keyboards and wireless mice. He knew ahead of time what he was after, came in quickly, got it, and left in less than 60 seconds," Workman said.

She's asked anyone who might have spotted the car, which was parked in front of the spa, to contact police. The shop's surveillance cameras did not capture that car.

Workman said another Mission Plaza business was also hit recently. She said about a month ago, the office of Fiesta Tacos was burglarized and a cash box was stolen from the restaurant's office.

Pleasanton police Sgt. Kurt Schlehuber said Fiesta Tacos was hit late Dec. 29 or early the next morning. Schlehuber said it doesn't appear the two are related.

He said unlike the Lavandu break-in, the door of the restaurant was pried open.

"It looks like more of a coincidence than anything," Schlehuber said.

Workman, however, said the burglar at her place did try to use a crowbar first, resorting to the glass cutter when he couldn't pry the door open. She said the two recent burglaries should warn other businesses to take extra precautions, locking valuables up or making it more difficult for people to get in and out.

Despite the theft, Workman said all her customers' data is safe.

"None of our clients' personal information or transactions were stored on those computers so there was no security breach," she said.

Anyone with information on either burglary is asked to contact the Pleasanton Police Department at 931-5100.